Chapter Text
It had been nearly two years since JJ had last seen her mother... two years of silence, distance, and unspoken words. The rift caused by Sandy’s unacceptance of Emily and their relationship had felt irreparable. JJ had tried to push it from her mind, telling herself she didn’t need her mother’s approval to live her life, to love Emily, to raise Sophia and Henry. But the ache of that loss lingered, no matter how much she tried to ignore it.
So, when the doorbell rang on an otherwise ordinary afternoon, JJ wasn’t expecting much. She cradled Sophia in her arms, the two-month-old cooing happily, blissfully unaware of her mother’s rising irritation at whoever had chosen to interrupt the quiet. Grumbling under her breath, she opened the door... and froze.
Sandy stood on the doorstep.
The sight of her mother sent a flood of emotions rushing through JJ’s mind: anger, hurt, frustration, and surprise, all swirling together in a messy, overwhelming whirlwind. It had been so long since they’d spoken, and time had done little to dull the pain of their last conversation.
“Mom.” Her voice was calm, almost frosty. Holding Sophia a little closer, JJ felt an instinctive protectiveness surge within her. “What are you doing here?”
A mix of regret and uncertainty marked Sandy’s face as she looked at her daughter. “Can I come in?” she asked softly.
JJ hesitated her thoughts, a whirlwind of questions and conflicting feelings. But as she held Sophia in her arms, her priority was to protect her baby. She wanted to keep their lives peaceful, far removed from the drama Sandy had always seemed to bring. She wasn’t about to expose her daughter to her mother’s toxic views on her relationship with Emily, no matter how little she was.
She tightened her hold on Sophia, torn between slamming the door in Sandy’s face and the buried desire to hear her out. Two years had passed, but the wounds still felt raw. “Why are you here?” she asked again, her tone firm. “You didn’t seem interested in my life the last time we spoke. What’s changed?”
“I… I wanted to see you,” Sandy said, her voice wavering with uncertainty. “And I heard you’d had a baby. I’m surprised you didn’t think that was something worth telling your own mother…”
JJ bristled at the hint of accusation in her mother’s words, her jaw tightening. “You know exactly why I didn’t call,” she shot back, “You wanted nothing to do with my life, choices, or family. You made that perfectly clear. Why do you suddenly care now? You’ve shown little interest in Henry... the grandson you knew for eleven years before you said what you said. Why would you think anything would be different with another grandchild?”
Sandy looked taken aback by JJ's hostility. She had expected some semblance of warmth, some degree of familial cordiality, but it was clear she had miscalculated. "I'm still your mother," she protested weakly, "And I'm a grandmother… surely that counts for something."
JJ's expression hardened at her mother’s words. The phrase "still your mother" sounded like a thinly veiled attempt at manipulation, but she asn’t about to let herself be swayed. "It does count for something. But trust and respect aren’t automatic. They’re earned. You destroyed that a long time ago. You don’t get just to show up and act like nothing’s happened."
Taking a deep breath, JJ decided she didn’t want Sophia anywhere near this conversation. "I’m going to put her down for a nap. You can wait here."
Sandy nodded silently, watching as JJ left the room with Sophia. Her gaze lingered on the tiny infant, the sight of her grandchild stirring an ache of something unnameable in her chest.
Once Sophia was settled, JJ pulled out her phone and quickly texted Emily.
JJ: I know you’re probably busy, but I need you to come home. Now.
Emily’s response came almost immediately.
EP: Ok... I’m coming home. Everything alright?
JJ: My mom showed up.
JJ hit send and waited, her stomach twisting as she stared at the screen. The last time she and her mother had spoken, Emily had been caught in the middle of Sandy's venomous words. JJ knew Emily had every right to be wary of this sudden reappearance, and the tension in her chest grew heavier by the second.
EP: I’m on my way. Be there in 10.
Emily’s reply was immediate and steadying. But even her partner’s reassuring presence on the way didn’t ease the anxiety building in her stomach. Two years of silence had almost made her forget how volatile things could be between her and Sandy. The sight of her mother in their home had dragged up memories JJ would rather leave buried.
Setting her phone aside, JJ headed back downstairs. She found Sandy standing in the living room, her eyes scanning the room. In her hands, she held a framed photo of JJ and Emily from their wedding day.
"Making yourself at home, I see," she quipped, her tone laced with sarcasm.
Sandy looked up as JJ entered, her expression unreadable. She placed the photo back on the shelf, her gaze flicking to JJ’s face before quickly averting to the floor.
"Lovely place you’ve made for yourselves," she murmured, "It looks nice. Comfortable."
JJ stiffened as Sandy’s eyes continued to take in their home. Old insecurities bubbled to the surface, unwanted, and JJ pushed them down as best she could. "Thanks. We like it," she replied curtly, her tone giving nothing away. She wasn’t about to offer her mother any more than that. She certainly wasn’t going to open the door for unnecessary questions or comments.
Sandy seemed to sense JJ's tension, her eyes darting to her daughter's face. She opened her mouth to say something, but the sound of the front door opening cut her off as Emily walked in.
Emily's eyes landed on Sandy, her expression shifting from surprise to cautious assessment. Her gaze then flicked to JJ, silently asking: Are you alright?
JJ met her wife’s eyes and gave a slight nod. She stepped closer to Emily, her hand reaching for hers. She clasped it tightly, drawing strength and reassurance from her presence.
“This is unexpected,” Emily said coolly, her tone carefully controlled as her eyes moved back to Sandy. “What brings you here?”
Sandy hesitated, visibly shrinking under Emily’s steady gaze. The last time they had seen each other, the tension had been thick, and clearly, the memory still lingered. She glanced at JJ’s protective stance and the way she held Emily’s hand, "I..." She began, clearing her throat. "I wanted to see my daughter."
Emily's expression remained calm, but her eyes were sharp, flickering to JJ before settling back on Sandy. "After two years of no contact?" she asked evenly. "And just now, out of the blue?"
Sandy flinched at the unyielding tone. There was no warmth, no invitation to explain herself further. Emily’s protectiveness of JJ was evident, as it always had been.
"Yes," Sandy said, forcing the words out. "I... I thought it was time to try and make amends."
Emily scoffed, her grip on JJ’s hand tightening slightly. "Make amends, is it?" she said flatly. "Two years. No calls, no letters, not even a card. Not a word from you. And now, all of a sudden, you want to make amends? What changed? Oh, wait… the baby. Convenient timing, wouldn’t you say?"
Sandy’s face reddened at Emily’s bluntness. Her eyes darted to JJ, and her tone turned defensive. "Does she always speak for you, Jennifer?"
JJ let out a sharp, bitter laugh. "She doesn’t speak for me. Emily has my respect, and I value her opinion." She fixed her gaze on her mother, "Don’t you dare twist this, Mom. Emily says what I think because we talk to each other. We communicate. We’re a team."
Sandy narrowed her eyes slightly, repeating the word as though tasting something unpleasant. "A team. That’s a bit far-fetched, isn’t it?"
Emily bristled at the faint note of homophobia in Sandy’s tone but held back, letting JJ take the lead. She was ready to intervene if needed, but for now, she trusted JJ to handle her mother.
JJ felt a surge of anger at her mother’s insinuation. After all this time, Sandy still refused to see her marriage, her family, as valid and equal... it stung deeply.
"No," JJ replied firmly, "It’s not far-fetched. We’re married. We’re partners. We’re parents to a beautiful little girl. We’re in this together every step of the way. So yes, Mom, we’re a team in every sense of the word. And don’t you ever dare imply otherwise."
Sandy’s expression darkened further at JJ’s words. “Married. Partners. That’s a joke, isn’t it? It’s unnatural, against tradition…” Her eyes flicked to the ring on JJ’s finger before narrowing. “And now you’ve dragged another child into this… this lifestyle you’ve chosen. I want a relationship with my grandchildren, Jennifer. They need the influence of someone who hasn’t chosen a life of depravity. You must see that.”
Emily stiffened, her protective instincts surging. JJ felt a similar rush of protectiveness as her mother’s words hit her, implying that her children might somehow be tainted by her life cutting deeper than she’d expected.
“Depravity?” she echoed, “Is that what you call this? A loving, committed relationship built on mutual respect and understanding? I’d say that’s a hell of a lot healthier than most so-called ‘traditional’ marriages.”
She took a step forward, her fists clenching at her sides. “And don’t you dare suggest that our children will somehow turn out wrong because of us. They will grow up loved and supported... something I didn’t always have from you and your traditional marriage.”
Sandy’s face turned a deeper shade of red, “How dare you,” she hissed. “I did everything for you. I raised you the best I could. I gave you a roof over your head, food to eat, clothes to wear. And this is how you repay me? By living in sin, by choosing this… this deviant lifestyle? Is that what this is, Jennifer? Payback for not letting you have your way as a teenager? You’re punishing me by keeping me from my grandchildren. Even Will won’t let me speak to Henry because of you.”
JJ let out a sharp, humourless laugh. “My deviant lifestyle? This is who I am, Mom. I’m not doing this to get back at you or anyone else. I’m happy. I’m in love. I have a family I adore.”
Her voice hardened, the anger simmering in her tone. “And yes, Will won’t let you talk to Henry because of me. Not because I’m cruel or vindictive, but because he knows the damage you could do to our son. Our son will grow up free to love whoever he chooses, free from your judgment.”
“Free to choose?” Sandy snapped back, her voice rising, dripping with derision. “You’re going to turn him into a carbon copy of yourself. Brainwashing him, teaching him that this… this lifestyle is normal and acceptable. No child of mine will live a life of sin, depravity, and disappointment.”
Emily could no longer hold back. She stepped forward, her eyes blazing. “Enough,” she said sharply. “What exactly do you think you’ll do about it, Sandy? You don’t get to walk into our home and lecture us about morality. You wouldn’t even recognise a loving, healthy relationship if it stared you in the face.”
JJ glanced at Emily, silently thanking her for stepping in.
Sandy bristled at Emily’s words, her anger bubbling over. “Oh, and you would know, would you?” she spat. “You’re just as sick and twisted as my daughter. You corrupted her, you know that? She was a nice, normal girl until she met you.”
Emily laughed, “Corrupted her? Or showed her what love really is? Love, support, trust, mutual respect, equality. All things you clearly can’t understand.” She stepped closer, “And as for being nice, normal, and straight… I hate to break it to you, but your daughter was never any of those things. All I did was allow her to be herself.”
Sandy’s face flushed even redder, her fists clenching so tightly her knuckles turned white. “You think you’re so perfect, don’t you?” she snarled. “Your relationship is a sham. You might think you’re in love now, but sooner or later, one of you will tire of this… this perversion.”
Emily’s laugh was sharp and pointed. “Perversion? We’re two consenting adults in a committed, loving relationship.”
“You may think this is love now, but it’s just a phase.”
JJ had had enough. The homophobia, the insults, the audacity of her mother to dismiss her love for Emily as a phase… it was too much. “A phase?” she interjected, “I’ve been in love with Emily since I was twenty-five. I loved her long before I met Will. I tried to conform to a heteronormative life because of you. Emily and I have been together for two years. Does that still sound like a phase to you?”
Sandy’s face paled, her eyes widening in shock at JJ’s admission. “You… you’ve… you’ve been…” she stammered, unable to respond coherently.
JJ watched her mother’s reaction, a mixture of sadness and anger rising within her. The stunned expression, the floundering for words... it might have been comical if it wasn’t so harrowing.
“Yes, Mom," she said, “I’ve been in love with Emily since I was twenty-five. She’s the love of my life. I want to grow old with her. Spend my life with her. Raise a family with her. Hell, maybe we even have more kids to influence with our deviant lifestyle. This is not a phase. Our marriage is as valid as any heterosexual one.”
Sandy’s face darkened even further at the mention of more children, but before she could speak, Emily stepped in again, her voice cutting. “And let me guess, you’re here now because you’ve suddenly decided you’re ready to be part of JJ’s life. Because there’s a newborn, you’d like to sink your claws into.”
Sandy’s face burned with indignation, her voice trembling with rage. “I’m allowed to be a grandmother! It’s my right.”
JJ clenched her jaw, her protective instincts kicking in full force. “Your right? Since when? Last I checked, being a grandmother is a privilege... one you earn through love, respect, and understanding. It’s not something you demand because of some misguided sense of entitlement.”
Sandy opened her mouth to respond, but Emily cut in sharply before she could.
“Exactly,” Emily said firmly. “You lost the right to be part of this family when you turned your back on JJ. You don’t get to show up here and expect to be welcomed back with open arms just because you’ve suddenly decided you want to play grandma. That’s not how this works.”
Sandy’s eyes darted between JJ and Emily, her face reddening further with every word. “You can’t keep me away from her!” she protested, her voice cracking slightly. “She’s my grandchild. I have a right!”
JJ let out a short, bitter laugh. “What right?” she asked coldly. “The right to tell her her parents are sinful? That our love is somehow less valid than straight love? To poison her against us?”
Sandy’s face twisted in frustration, her anger boiling over. “That’s not… it’s not my intention… I…” She faltered, struggling to find the words. Deep down, she knew she was in the wrong, but her stubborn pride and deeply ingrained beliefs wouldn’t let her admit it.
Emily stepped closer, her voice sharp and unyielding. “That’s exactly what you’d do. You’d fill Sophia’s head with your poison, burden her with your outdated beliefs, and make her feel less than because she has two mothers. Do you honestly think we’d let that happen?”
“I’m not… I wouldn’t…” Sandy stammered, her protests weak and unconvincing, even to herself.
Her shoulders sagged slightly, a flicker of guilt crossing her face. JJ watched her, her expression guarded. The wounds from her childhood still felt fresh, and seeing her mother like this stirred a storm of emotions.
“I just… I just wanted to see my granddaughter,” Sandy mumbled, tears pricking at the corners of her eyes. “That’s all…”
The sound of Sophia’s cries broke through the tense silence. JJ’s expression softened slightly as her maternal instincts took over. “Excuse me,” she said curtly, turning to Emily. “I’ll go. Please get rid of her before I come back.”
Emily nodded, “Of course, my love.” JJ left the room, heading upstairs, leaving Emily alone with Sandy. Emily’s gaze hardened as she turned back to Sandy. “Don’t give me that look,” she said coldly. “You’re not the victim here. You don’t get to show up, spew your venom, and then play the sad, rejected grandmother.”
Sandy fumbled for a response, clearly uncomfortable under Emily’s unrelenting stare. “I’m not playing a part,” she protested weakly. “I just wanted to see my granddaughter. Is that so wrong?”
Emily tilted her head, her gaze unwavering. “Your granddaughter, whom you’re fully prepared to poison with your outdated, bigoted beliefs? Yes, that’s wrong.”
She stepped closer, her expression sharp. “You may have given birth to JJ, but you don’t own her. You don’t own us, and you certainly don’t own our family. You can’t just waltz in here, preach your hate, and expect access to Sophia. Who, by the way, has Roslyn as her middle name. Thought you should know.”
Sandy’s face paled at the mention of JJ’s sister, a flicker of guilt crossing her features. “You… you named her after… her sister…” she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Emily nodded without hesitation. “We wanted to honour Roslyn. And let’s not pretend she would have approved of your hateful treatment of Jen, either. Would she?”
“It’s not hate. It’s just… it’s not natural… it’s not right. ‘Man shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.’”
Emily rolled her eyes, her patience wearing thin. “Ah, quoting the Bible now, are we?” she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. “You’re using a verse from a book written thousands of years ago to justify your bigotry? It’s the 21st century, Sandy, not the 12th. You and your beliefs are outdated.” She crossed her arms, her voice unwavering. “For your information, I was raised Catholic. My mother is Catholic. And she welcomed JJ with open arms, with love. You know what the Bible also says? ‘Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.’ Do you think your God would be proud of you, Sandy? For turning your back on not one but two daughters? He wouldn’t be. He’d be ashamed. You should be ashamed."
Sandy was floundering, desperately searching for some argument, some rebuttal to Emily’s words. But she had nothing. The mention of God and Emily’s Catholic upbringing hit a nerve. Sandy had been raised on a steady diet of Bible verses, and the thought of her own God disapproving of her actions shook her to her core.
“I… I’m doing this out of love,” she protested weakly. “I’m trying to save their souls.”
“Love? Is that what you call this?” Emily asked, gesturing to the tense standoff between them. “You’re not doing this out of love, Sandy. You’re doing this out of fear and prejudice. You’re so terrified that your daughter is living a life that doesn’t fit into your narrow, outdated views of right and wrong that you’d rather judge her, condemn her, and push her away.”
She stepped closer, “And you call that love? If that’s love, then JJ doesn’t want it. And I sure as hell don’t want it anywhere near my stepson or my daughter. Now get out of my house.”
“You can’t just… you can’t just kick me out,” she said, her voice trembling. “I’m… I’m her mother. I have rights.”
“What rights?” Emily shot back, her patience worn thin. “The right to judge us? To hate us? To spew your narrow-minded beliefs in our home? You have no rights when it comes to us. I don’t care if you gave birth to JJ. You’re toxic, and your presence is not welcome here. She’s thirty-seven years old, Sandy... free to make her own choices in life. She told me to get rid of you, and we’ve entertained you long enough. Get the hell off our property, and never show up here unannounced again. Do I make myself clear?”
Sandy opened her mouth, a protest forming on her lips, but the cold, unyielding look in Emily’s eyes froze the words before they could escape. Slowly, realisation dawned. This battle was lost. She wasn’t welcome here—not now, and maybe not ever. Her shoulders sagged as she took a step back. “I… I…” she stammered, grasping at words. “I’m her mother…”
“And a terrible one at that Emily snapped. “Get out, Sandy. You’re not welcome here.”
The harsh words stung, but Sandy had no fight left in her. She could see the determination in Emily’s eyes, and any protest would be futile.
“I… I’ll go,” Sandy mumbled, her voice barely audible.
She turned, her steps faltering, but she began to walk toward the door. Just before reaching it, she paused, casting one final glance back at Emily.
“You’ll ruin her life,” she said, her voice trembling, a desperate parting shot.
Emily scoffed, “I haven’t ruined JJ’s life, Sandy,” she said, her eyes narrowing. “You did that the moment you turned your back on her when she needed you most. All you’ve ever done is hold her back, make her question who she is. She blossomed once she was free from you... Free to be herself. She’s happy now. Happier than she’s ever been. And I’ll be damned if I let you destroy that.”
Sandy’s face paled further at Emily’s words, the truth of them sinking in despite her refusal to admit it.
“I… I…” she tried to speak, but the argument died in her throat. There was nothing left to say.
With a final, resigned sigh, she turned and walked out of the house. The door closed behind her with a heavy click.
Emily stood there, watching her go, her heart pounding. The moment the door shut, her bravado and her icy exterior all crumbled. Her shoulders sagged, and a shaky exhale escaped her lips. She had done it. She had stood her ground, protected JJ, and safeguarded their family. But the confrontation had left her drained. She leaned against the wall, her knees feeling weak, as she took a moment to collect herself before heading upstairs to check on JJ.